21 October 2001
Text: APEC Leaders Issue "Unequivocal" Condemnation of Terrorism
(Describe terrorism as a "direct challenge" to vision of APEC) (890)
Pacific Rim leaders have condemned "unequivocally" and "in the
strongest terms" the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United
States, and called for increased international cooperation to bring
terrorist perpetrators to justice.
Meeting in Shanghai for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
forum, leaders of 20 economies -- including China, Malaysia, Russia,
the United States, and Indonesia -- committed their governments to
preventing and suppressing "all forms of terrorist acts in the future"
in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
Specifically, they pledged to adopt financial measures to prevent the
flow of funds to terrorists, to adhere to international requirements
on air and maritime security, and to have their transportation chiefs
discuss additional measures to enhance airport, aircraft and port
security.
On energy security, they committed to strengthening mechanisms to
respond to temporary interruptions in supply, and to cooperate more
closely on protecting other critical sectors such as
telecommunications and health.
The leaders said they would enhance customs communication networks and
called for development of a global integrated electronic customs
network that would permit better law enforcement with a minimum impact
on the flow of trade. They also endorsed development of electronic
movement records systems that could enhance border security while
ensuring the free movement of legitimate travelers.
Describing terrorism as "a direct challenge to APEC's vision of free,
open and prosperous economies," the leaders said that it is "more
important than ever" for members to advance the goal set in Bogor of
achieving free, open trade by the year 2020.
Following is the text of the statement:
(begin text)
October 21, 2001
APEC Leaders Statement on Counter-Terrorism
1. Leaders unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist
attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, and express their
deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of a large number of
nationalities and their families and to the people and Government of
the United States of America.
2. Leaders consider the murderous deeds as well as other terrorist
acts in all forms and manifestations, committed wherever, whenever and
by whomsoever as a profound threat to the peace, prosperity and
security of all people, of all faiths, of all nations. Terrorism is
also a direct challenge to APEC's vision of free, open and prosperous
economies, and to the fundamental values that APEC members hold.
3. Leaders reaffirm that it is more important than ever for every
economy to forge ahead in its commitment in achieving Bogor's goal of
free, open trade and investment.
4. Leaders deem it imperative to strengthen international cooperation
at all levels in combating terrorism in a comprehensive manner and
affirm that UN should play a major role in this regard, especially
taking into account the importance of all relevant UN resolutions.
5. Leaders commit to prevent and suppress all forms of terrorist acts
in the future in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and
other international law, pledge to implement the UN Security Council
Resolution 1368 and 1373 faithfully and immediately, strongly support
all efforts to strengthen the international anti-terrorism regime,
call for increased cooperation to bring perpetrators to justice, and
also call for early signing and ratification of all basic universal
anti-terrorist conventions including the International Convention for
the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.
6. Leaders are determined to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation in
line with specific circumstances in their respective economies,
through:
-- Appropriate financial measures to prevent the flow of funds to
terrorists, including accelerating work on combating financial crimes
through APEC Finance Ministers' working Group on Fighting Financial
Crime and increasing involvement in related international
standard-setting bodies;
-- Adherence by all economies to relevant international requirements
for the security of air and maritime transportation. Leaders call on
Transport Ministers to actively take part in the discussions on
enhancing airport, aircraft, and port security, achieve effective
outcomes as early as possible, and assure full implementation and
cooperation in this regard;
-- Strengthening of energy security in the region through the
mechanism of the APEC Energy Security Initiative, which examines
measures to respond to temporary supply disruptions and longer-term
challenges facing the region's energy supply;
-- Strengthening of APEC activities in the area of critical sector
protection, including telecommunications, transportation, health and
energy.
-- Enhancement of customs communication networks and expeditious
development of a global integrated electronic customs network, which
would allow customs authorities to better enforce laws while
minimizing the impact on the flow of trade.
-- Cooperation to develop electronic movement records systems that
will enhance border security while ensuring movement of legitimate
travelers is not disrupted.
-- Strengthening capacity building and economic and technical
cooperation to enable member economies to put into place and enforce
effective counter-terrorism measures.
-- Cooperation to limit the economic fallout from the attacks and move
to restore economic confidence in the region through policies and
measures to increase economic growth as well as ensure stable
environment for trade, investment, travel and tourism.
7. Leaders also pledge to cooperate fully to ensure that international
terrorism does not disrupt economies and markets, through close
communication and cooperation among economic policy and financial
authorities.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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